Iran has resumed four-hour daily power outages in Tehran and other cities as a severe energy crisis grips the country, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on Wednesday, sparking public complaints over unannounced cuts and unequal distribution.
The blackouts, often split into two two-hour intervals, have in some cases been officially announced by city councils or municipalities. But many residents say only one outage is listed on the government’s “Bargh-e Man” (“My Electricity”) app, with the second – often in the early evening – occurring without warning.
Reports sent by residents to Iran International and posts on social media also described prolonged water cuts in some areas, compounding the hardship as much of the country swelters in extreme heat.
Authorities in 28 of Iran’s 31 provinces ordered all government offices, banks and public institutions closed on Wednesday due to the soaring temperatures, sparing only the provinces of Ilam, Hamedan and Lorestan.
Industrial groups have warned that rolling blackouts since May could cut annual steel output by 33%, while also hitting cement and petrochemical production.
Motion against energy minister
Lawmakers have blamed years of underinvestment in power plants and refineries for chronic shortages in both electricity and fuel.
Over 100 members of parliament have signed a motion to impeach Energy Minister Abbas Aliabadi.
Critics, including senior members of the energy and infrastructure committees, accused him of making unrealistic promises, such as saying in February that with sufficient fuel he could supply electricity to neighboring states, including Iraq.
“The 20,000-megawatt electricity shortfall and structural problems in the industry will not be solved just by providing more fuel,” said Mohammad Bahrami Seyfabadi, deputy head of parliament’s energy committee.
Mojtaba Yousefi, a member of the construction committee, called the repeated blackouts “theft from people’s pockets,” saying energy shortages have raised production costs and hurt livelihoods.
The energy ministry maintains that planned household outages should not exceed two hours a day and be scheduled outside night-time hours. But residents in parts of Tehran and other cities say the four-hour cuts are now routine, with little or no warning.
